Pune: At least nine students from Vidya Pratishthan English Medium School in Supe sustained minor injuries after an MSRTC bus ferrying them overturned at the Supe Ghat section, about 65km from Pune, on Wednesday morning.The accident happened around 7.30am when the bus was heading towards Supe after picking up students from Kusegaon, Padvi and other locations in Baramati taluka. “There were about 50 students from Std I to Std X were travelling in the bus,” an official from the school said.“Nine students sustained injuries in the accident. One of them sustained an internal fracture, while others sustained minor injuries,” additional superintendent of police (Pune Rural) Ganesh Biradar said.Biradar, who visited the accident spot, said a preliminary investigation revealed that the driver applied the brakes on the first turn while ascending the Supe Ghat section. While changing gears, the bus started rolling backwards. The driver could not control the bus, following which it went off the road and overturned. “The students immediately got out of the bus,” Biradar said.The officer said the injured students were immediately taken to nearby hospitals for treatment. Biradar said a case of negligent driving was being registered against the bus driver at Yavat police station. “The accident happened because of the bus driver’s negligence. We will investigate whether the driver was experienced,” Biradar said.Vidya Pratishthan’s treasurer Yugendra Pawar visited the spot and provided assistance to the injured students.Deputy chief minister Sunetra Pawar posted on her X handle, “Contact was made with the additional superintendent of police and the principal of the school concerned to inquire about the students’ conditions. Instructions have been given to the doctors to provide immediate and the best possible treatment to the injured students. Additionally, instructions have been issued to the police for necessary relief work and coordination.”Baramati MP and NCP (SP) working president Supriya Sule posted on her X account, “This incident is extremely tragic. I connected with the parents of the injured children through video call and provided them with reassurance. Meanwhile, I am in constant contact with the Vidya Pratishthan administration and am monitoring to ensure the students receive the best possible treatment. I pray to God that these children return home safely.”NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar raised concerns on his X account about the services of the MSRTC. “Except for the minor injuries sustained by some students, it is fortunate that no student’s life was endangered in the accident and everyone is safe. However, just last week, when two consecutive buses from Swargate to Baramati broke down, passengers had to be accommodated in a third bus. The administration must immediately conduct a thorough investigation into this accident and ensure that not only students but also the lives of any ordinary person travelling by the MSRTC are not put at risk.”Kamlesh Dhanrale, the divisional traffic officer of the Pune division of MSRTC, said the driver of the bus will face suspension. “The bus was encountering a very sharp turn and it stopped as right after the turn, the road is elevated. However, somehow, he couldn’t control the vehicle and it started to move backwards and then fell off the ghat. We checked the bus, which is 10 years old, and found it to be in perfect shape with brakes and other components working. The fault is of the driver and he will face action. Further investigations are being carried out,” the official said.
